Voters should remember that Dr. Lester Spell, the Auburn veterinarian who took credit for the Mississippi Beef Processors plant when state officials held an elaborate grand opening ceremony for the project but since has denied any responsibility, was a lifelong Democrat before the Beef Plant boondoggle.
Spell converted to the GOP in June, 2005, in an apparent effort to salvage his political career and to distance himself from House Democrats who helped him put the project together. In the 2007 elections, he’s thrown the Legislature, the Mississippi Development Authority, the media and anyone else who stand still long enough under the political bus in his effort to hide behind Republican coattails and win another term.
Mississippi State voters should remember that Spell has actively blamed Mississippi State University for failing to come forward with negative forecasts about the plant’s viability – which is simply a lie. This guy has zero connection to MSU and zero interest in the future of that institution of higher learning. He’s an Auburn man – and he governs like it, too.
Spell whines about the beef plant like Shug Jordan used to whine about the MSU cowbell.